Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Lower limb deep venous thrombosis is a common concurrent disease following spinal cord injury (SCI). Arteriovenous (A-V) foot pump has received acceptable effects on prevention the formation of lower limb deep venous thrombosis after SCI.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate effect of A-V foot pump on venous flow in patients with SCI complicated with deep vein thrombosis.
METHODS: All cases, under 65 ages, were selected from the First Hospital of China Medical University from January 2008 to December 2009. A total of 17 cases of SCI complicated with deep vein thrombosis were served as case group. At the same time, 20 cases of SCI without deep venuous thrombosis served as control group. All cases were treated by A-V foot pump on the base of routine dose aspirin and graduated elastic compression stocking without contraindications for 3 months. The hemodynamics of venous flow were measured pre-treatment, 30 minutes after treatment and the moment of stopping treatment (less than 60 seconds) by using Color Dopplar ultrasonography.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 30 minutes treatment, the maximal velocity of the vein (Vmax) and blood flow volume per minute in the common femoral vein of both groups were increased compared with before treatment (P < 0.05), however, the increase was smaller in the case group. Two-dimensional sonogram showed that, the irregular venous wall, irregular hypoechogenicity intracavity, and thin bundles blood flow signal could be found in the case group. Homogeneous hypoechogenicity, regular venous wall, and full of blood flow signal could be found in the control group. After stopping treatment, Vmax and blood flow volume per minute in the common femoral vein of both groups were lower than in the treatment (P < 0.05), but still increased compared with before (P < 0.05). The values of hemodynamics of venous flow were significantly augmented after 4 weeks treatment, and the Vmax of common femoral vein was increased, and peaked at 4 weeks after treatment. Both SCI-DVT and SCI groups, A-V foot pump may significantly increase the patient’s lower extremity venous blood flow and improve microcirculation function; make collateral circulation, which supplies a effective treatment for patients with SCI complicated with deep vein thrombosis.